Center for International Disaster Information

On July 20, the U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia announced that severely reduced food access, acute malnutrition, and high crude mortality rates indicate ongoing famine conditions in Lower Shabelle Region and areas of Bakool Region in southern Somalia. The USAID-supported Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) estimates that a total of 3.2 million people now require immediate, lifesaving humanitarian assistance, including 2.8 million people in southern Somalia. FEWS NET, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU), and other U.N. agencies have urged the humanitarian community to rapidly scale up multi-sectoral relief efforts to address the needs of the people in crisis.

A monetary contribution to a preferred responding agency is nearly always the best form af assistance that can be provided by the American public. See the InterAction link below for responding organizations and the GlobalGiving link for support of related projects.

Appeals for Monetary Donation Support

Companies, organizations and individuals wishing to make a material contributibution of aid in response to the activity in the Horn of Africa have the best opportunity of success in placement of an offer if each of the following points are met before collecting and offering goods:

confirm there is a need for the commodity
coordinate with an agency prepared to receive the commodity
insure that all transportation costs are covered
insure that all customs and tariffs issues are managed
make certain in-country warehousing and distribution plans are in place

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